J.1 Performance Work Statement.docx

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Performance Work Statement (PWS) as of August 17, 2022

Contents

1.0 Project Title

Central Sierra Zone Rangeland Fence Construction Services Multiple Award Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract.

2.0 Background and Purpose

In recent years large scale fires have damaged many miles worth of livestock fencing that is used to control livestock movement, manage herds, and protect other resources such as sensitive plant habitat, compromised riparian areas, and define boundaries, allowing the US Forest Service (FS) and partners to manage the resources under our sustainable use model. The purpose of this effort would allow the FS the means available to call upon contractors when the time is needed to replace fencing that has been damaged by any disturbance to help manage the rangeland resources.

3.0 General

For the projects on the Tahoe National Forest (NF), Plumas NF, and Eldorado NF, Lassen NF, and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (MU), the typical terrain is remote, mountainous, and rugged. Certain projects will require livestock packing of equipment and supplies and camping for extended periods in remote, sometimes roadless areas. Most areas have been affected or will be affected during the term of the contract by wildfire that has destroyed or damaged the existing structures. The elevations of project areas may range from approximately 2,500 to 10,000 feet. Terrain can vary from hilly and rocky to steep and rocky. Some areas can present significant stretches of continuous rock or bedrock. There are not likely to be long stretches of relatively flat, smooth terrain.

4.0 Scope

This effort is for construction and/or reconstruction of rangeland fencing across FS Central Sierra Zone, in California. The scope of this requirement includes all supervision, labor, material, equipment, parts, transportation, lodging necessary for rangeland fence construction on the Tahoe NF, Plumas NF, and Eldorado NF, Lassen NF, and the Lake Tahoe Basin MU. Work also includes the removal of damaged material and disposing of in accordance with all Federal, State, and local regulations. The bulk of the work under the proposed contract will likely consist of rangeland fence projects and will focus on barbed wire fences, braces, gates, cattle guards, and other related livestock containment structures. Clearing and pruning of vegetation and removal of hazard trees along existing fence lines will be required.

The work described herein is designed to be completed in the footprint of previous infrastructure. As such, no analysis is needed as the decision to implement infrastructure has been authorized in previous decisions in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. If new construction is to take place, all implementation work will be compliant to policy and regulations, and infrastructure will be outlined in decisions authorized in accordance with the NEPA requirements.

Methodology for completing these needs will come from a combination of FS Guidelines and input from FS Resource Specialist and Permittees. The contractor shall provide a short synopsis identifying methodology and any areas of uncertainty resulting from lack of information or direction from the FS. In the event that further clarification is necessary, or changes needed, please contact the FS Contracting Officer's Representative, to coordinate exchange of information with FS Resource Specialists prior to any changes being implemented.

5.0 Objectives

This is an Multiple Award IDIQ contract allowing specific projects to be added via individual project task order (TO) as they are developed.

Individual projects may include construction and/or reconstruction of livestock, range, wildlife, riparian and/or recreation fences. Related work may include, but not limited to, the following:

Construction of 3 or 4 strand barbed wire fence Other type of wildlife or riparian fence construction Removal/disposal of damaged or unusable fence Clearing of fence-line Right of Way Providing new fencing materials

Fences will be built to FS specifications (see Attachments 2 - 4). The contractor will be responsible for transporting all the necessary material to the project site. The contractor will be responsible for disposing of all leftover pieces of metal, flagging, other construction debris, and associated garbage.

Individual projects will be packaged with the project-specific details that supplement the standard specifications and terms of the basic contract. These individual project requirements will include detailed payment items, special or supplemental project specifications, drawings, specialized inspection terms, performance period requirements, government-furnished property, government-furnished facilities, or government-furnished services, special contract requirements, exhibits and other detailed requirements applicable to the specific individual project. In the event coordination with private landowners is necessary to access project locations, it will be identified per individual TO.

For each individual project a best-value analysis and source selection will be completed. Project-specific pricing and project-specific technical proposals will be requested as described herein.

If a fair and reasonable price is negotiated through the individual project proposal process, an individual project TO will be prepared for that specific project. The actual contract value is based on the cumulative amounts of these individual project TO and any subsequent modifications to them. If a fair and reasonable price is not reached through the individual project proposal process, that individual project will be withdrawn for acquisition separate from this contract. Pricing of individual projects will be firm-fixed price.

Applicable bonding requirements will be included with each individual project TO and will apply only to that specific individual project TO. There are no separate bonding requirements for the contract as a whole.

The Government reserves the right to determine whether any specific individual project is to be made available under this contract. Numerous projects that also use the standard specifications and terms covered under this contract may be acquired separately from this contract.

Contractor Requirements

6.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

To fulfill the requirements of this contract, the contractor shall complete the task listed below. The requirement for this contract is to purchase and install the materials needed to repair and replace the rangeland infrastructure that has been damaged by disturbance and to remove damaged material and dispose of in accordance with all Federal, State, and local regulations. Construction of new infrastructure may be authorized in subsequent task orders. Contractors shall be responsible for the professional and technical accuracy of all work or services rendered. Errors and/or deficiencies resulting from the performance shall be corrected at no additional cost to the FS. If the contractor determines that that information is provided by the FS is inaccurate, it is incumbent upon the contractor to notify the FS immediately. Should the inaccuracy necessitate a change in scope, or level of effort, such change shall be formalized with a bilateral modification to the contract.

As a Federal agency, the FS must comply with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552 et seq. If the contractor receives a request for records related to this contract, the contractor will forward that request to the Plumas NF FOIA coordinator.

This section specifies the tasks that shall be completed to fulfill the obligations of this contract. Deliverables are due as shown in the 'Schedule' below with delivery of all specified items no later than date to be determined (TBD). Delivery due dates may be extended if the contractor has been delayed in its performance by an act or omission of FS, and through no fault of the contractor. All such delays must be agreed to in writing by the FS.

All documents for review as deliverables must be posted to a designated site (described in Task 1a) in Microsoft Word format. Any comments, edits, or clarifying remarks shall be made using "track changes" on a designated site. Comments, edits, and other clarifying remarks must be delivered within fifteen (15) calendar days from the date the draft is posted and a request for review is made, unless otherwise stated or mutually agreed by the FS and the contractor. Required meeting will be held at TBD date. Draft documents shall be posted on a designated site (or other mutually agreed location), the FS will review, and the contractor shall incorporate the FS's comments and repost the final version, unless stated otherwise.

The FS and the contractor shall each provide a single point of contact for leading, coordinating, and providing oversight of work by each respective party. All requests for information, clarification shall be originated and made to these individuals unless otherwise agreed. These project leads shall be identified at the kickoff meeting (described in Task 1 below).

Table 1. Rangeland Infrastructure Repair and Replacement Task List

6.1 Task 1: Meetings and Calls

Required contractor personnel and FS, will participate in a kickoff meeting, if needed, to be hosted by the FS, scheduled for TBD (time and location). The purpose of this meeting would be to ensure the proper specifications of materials being purchased and installed are what is needed for the projects. The project leaders from the FS and the contractor who will be responsible for coordinating, organizing, and leading the purchasing, and installation described within this contract must be identified at, or prior to the kickoff meeting. Coordination and scheduling of the kickoff meeting will be the responsibility of the FS.

6.1.1 Task 1a: SharePoint (a designated site) Management

The contractor and FS shall work to identify a mutually acceptable SharePoint site (currently established at a designated site) that the contractor and FS can utilize to share, edit, and transmit documents through the duration of this work. It is anticipated that the contractor will maintain and manage this site through the duration of the project in cooperation with the FS administrator of the designated site.

6.1.2 Task 1b: Quality Assurance/Quality Control for review and acceptance of deliverables The contractor shall develop a draft quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) plan and protocol for review and acceptance of deliverables that must be submitted within fifteen (15) calendar days of the TO award. This draft QA/QC plan will be reviewed by the FS and any issues will be identified. Prior to commencement of implementation this plan must be finalized as mutually agreed upon by the FS and the contractor. The QA/QC plan must describe the measures that the contractor will take to ensure that the supplies and services rendered to the FS will be of professional quality. The QA/QC plan must identify all key personnel who will be utilized by the contractor. Substitutions of key personnel must be approved by the FS in advance and in writing. The QA/QC plan must also include recommendations for FS inspections, and their frequency; however, unannounced FS inspections must be included.

6.2 Task 2: Implementation

The contractor shall purchase and install all material for fencing. The FS will provide initial data and other documentation in a file structure that the contractor must maintain for the duration of this work. Reference materials, templates, guidance, and other pertinent material will be provided by the FS to the contractor via the designated site and will be maintained and indexed by the contractor as part of the project record.

6.2.1 Task 2a: Inspection of Services Rendered

The FS will inspect completion and quality of project work to ensure functionality of products and that materials are not damaged and meet installation requirements and regulations.

6.3 Task 3: Finalize and submit project record

The contractor shall prepare and assemble a project record and furnish one hard copy and one electronic copy (of electronic documents) on electronic media (e.g., thumb drive) to the FS within one (1) week of completing Task 2. The project record includes all information of services rendered. A complete project record is the entirety of the information relied upon within the contractor's possession.

7.0 Performance Standards

Task 1: Meetings and Calls

Task 3: Finalize and submit project record

8.0 Government Furnished

The Government shall furnish FS geospatial data indicating approximate location and length of fences to be reconstructed to the contractor, for the use of this project. In addition, the FS and contractor will coordinate project specific data exchange using a format that is mutually accessible.

9.0 Place of Performance

The work will be performed throughout the FS Region 5 Central Sierra Zone, and will include the Tahoe NF, Plumas NF, Eldorado NF, Lassen NF, and the Lake Tahoe Basin MU.

10.0 Period of Performance

The period of performance will consist of a 1-year base period with two (2), 1-years option periods. The base period of the contract will be April 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024. The ultimate completion date if all options are exercised will be March 30, 2026.

11.0 Delivery Schedule

The following table identifies the target dates for completion of each task. If a date in this schedule is not met, the FS and contractor shall develop a mutually agreed upon modified schedule at the next scheduled monthly coordination meeting for this project.

12.0 Performance Requirement Measures

Quality Assurance/Quality Control: Contractor is responsible for the quality and accuracy of their work consistent with their approved QA/QC plan.

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